NFL Tells theaters not to air football games

[GBRulz]

I won't paste the entire story, just selected parts. If you want to read the full article, here is the link. Don't wanna piss JSO off

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703965

[gbgary]

looks like a sports bar to me. yeah that's it. it's a sports bar. that's the ticket.

[MJZiggy]

Well obviously the solution to this one is to simply keep attendance at these events and report them to Nielsen because obviously they're watching the game on a network. If it's just a matter of ratings, it's a no-brainer. Why can't these high paid executives think of great stuff like this? Geez.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm starting to hate the NFL. Too greedy.

[NewsBruin]

Only slightly related, but I thought it was odd that the JSO published an article about how cool the casino's Packer theater was, when just the year before, they did a shocked-and-appalled article about the couple who locked their kid at their memorabila-filled house while they went to the same casino.

[The Leaper]

I'm not sure how the NFL can claim this violates a copyright...as long as the place does not charge admission. They could potentially have a legal claim if they show games on the NFL Network...but I don't see how they could do that if the game is shown on regular over-the-air channels.

So if I invite 20 people over to my house to watch the game, am I infringing on their copyright too?

Don't give me the crap about ratings...unless you have a Nielsen box hooked up to your TV, your viewing habits aren't known to anyone. My guess is that about 99.5% of the people at those Packer showings aren't part of the Nielsen group.

Does the NFL really want to take this to court and look like the bad guy? I doubt it. I'm guessing they are hoping the letter and potential future legal hassles are enough to scare these places into cooperating with them.

My guess is that a casino isn't scared of the NFL...they've already got lawyers. I also figure that if a sports bar is OK doing it, then there has to be a loophole that these places can utilize to show the games.

[Cheesehead Craig]

If the NFL keeps this crap up, they are going to start losing fans.

MLB is doing things the right way when it comes to their games. They make it pretty damn easy to see a game however you want.

[gbgary]

If the NFL keeps this crap up, they are going to start losing fans.

MLB is doing things the right way when it comes to their games. They make it pretty damn easy to see a game however you want.

mlb is running a veeeery distant second (maybe even third), so they need to play nice, but you're right.

[Merlin]

Our local theater shows the games and they aren't on the list. They are packed for every game regardless of which station is carrying the game. If a bar can carry it then a theater can carry it.

The NFL got outsmarted and doesn't like it so they are pulling stuff out of their ass.

[Carolina_Packer]

Our local theater shows the games and they aren't on the list. They are packed for every game regardless of which station is carrying the game. If a bar can carry it then a theater can carry it.

The NFL got outsmarted and doesn't like it so they are pulling stuff out of their ass.

Do they serve beer or other drinks, Merlin?

[FritzDontBlitz]

Every year come playoff time the NFL does this. On Super Bowl Sunday they will be bitching at anyone who has a SuperBowl party in their own home.

[BallHawk]

Follow up.......

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=705944

Despite a demand from the National Football League to stop, at least three state theaters are proceeding with plans to show Saturday's National Football League playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks on the big screen.

The theaters are the Rivoli in La Crosse, the Majestic in Madison and the Fox Bay Cinema Grill in Whitefish Bay.

Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesman, said cease-and-desist letters were sent to the owners of all three theaters. The league is arguing that showing the games on big screens violates copyright law. The league says businesses that offer such showings are creating a special event, which is unlawful.

That makes it different from sports bars, according to McCarthy. The league makes exceptions for bars that show games on a daily basis.

Spokesmen for the Rivoli and Majestic said they had not received a letter from the NFL. Brian Henry, the owner of the Fox Bay Cinema Grill, did not return a reporter's phone call, but said earlier in the week that he had not received a letter.

McCarthy said, however, that an attorney for the Majestic had responded to the NFL's cease-and-desist letter. He did not disclose what the Majestic response was.

The Rivoli spokesman, who identified himself only as Tom, said the theater has had a DISH Network satellite connection. He said the dispute was between DISH and the NFL, not his theater.

McCarthy disagreed. DISH has a deal with the NFL Network, which broadcast eight games this past season. It has nothing to do with the current dispute, he said.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesman, said cease-and-desist letters were sent to the owners of all three theaters. The league is arguing that showing the games on big screens violates copyright law. The league says businesses that offer such showings are creating a special event, which is unlawful.

What does a business have to do to make the event unspecial? Perhaps show another game or two? If there is no cover charge, is it special? This seems like a very difficult law to enforce, and it's unreasonable.

[Jimx29]

Some theaters ignore NFL, will show Packers on big screens

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